Mark Downie
banner
poppastring.com
Mark Downie
@poppastring.com
🧑🏾‍💻OSS (dasBlog)
🏢PM @ Microsoft (Visual Studio, Core AI)
🏀📖🎸
✝️

poppastring.com/blog
Pinned
A starter pack If you're looking to follow folks from Microsoft's Core AI Developer Division.

go.bsky.app/JuyrK9N
Reposted by Mark Downie
Hey #OpenTelemetry folks in the #dotnet space!
Is it ok to set "System.Diagnostics.Activity.Current = null" if I want to start a new trace? Or is there a better way?

My problem: I use an Observable in a BackgroundService which gets "OnNext" in scoped (http) requests.
1/2
January 28, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I have to practice saying "I do not know" a lot more. I tend to say, "I am not sure" when in fact what I mean is "I do not know".
January 28, 2026 at 8:27 PM
A post from the archive 📫:
Debugger Text Visualizer


https://www.poppastring.com/blog/debugger-text-visualizer

#debugging #visualstudio
January 28, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
Updates for Wed., Jan. 28:

- Waived fares are extended through the end of service, tomorrow, Jan. 28.

- COTA//Plus will operate in all zones.

- Mainstream is prioritizing life-crucial trips.

- The Customer Experience Center is open. For immediate needs, call 614-228-1776.
January 27, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
We’ve expanded your connections in Groveport! Lines 22 and 24 no longer end at the Marathon — they now continue to the Mobility Center at Rickenbacker, connecting you to jobs, services and the GREAT Shuttle. Details at COTA.com/servicechanges.
January 27, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Does Evidence Even Matter?

"Velocity has replaced authority in media."

om.co/2026/01/26/d...
Does Evidence Even Matter?
I was taught never to discuss money, politics, or religion in public. Those childhood lessons are why I avoid political commentary, though I don’t…
om.co
January 28, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
"Every day, I wake up and see the news and I'm horrified. I think it is crazy that some people make it sound like it's acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable." - Victor Wembanyama says about the killings in Minnesota

Via DonHarris4/X
January 27, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
Random complaint – I hate how much space Gmail puts around lists.
January 27, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
Our crews are working 12-hour back-to-back shifts to get your streets safe and passable. Give our Snow Warriors some appreciation in the comments!

Check out where our #SnowWarriors have been at warriorwatch.columbus.gov❄️
January 27, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
semi-regular reminder that I wrote a whole book explaining how and why originalism sucks shit and what we should be doing instead, and I would very much appreciate it if you and your peeps gave it a read

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735353...
The Originalism Trap by Madiba K. Dennie: 9780593729250 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A rallying cry for a more just approach to the law that bolsters social justice movements by throwing out originalism—the theory that judges should interpret the Constitution exactly as conservatives....
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
Module 1 of Data Engineering Zoomcamp done! 🎉

- Docker containers
- Postgres & SQL
- Terraform & GCP
- NYC taxi data pipeline

Free course by DataTalks Club: github.com/DataTalksClu...

That was a LOT for the first section, but I finished it in the nick of time 😅
GitHub - DataTalksClub/data-engineering-zoomcamp: Data Engineering Zoomcamp is a free 9-week course on building production-ready data pipelines. The next cohort starts in January 2026. Join the course...
Data Engineering Zoomcamp is a free 9-week course on building production-ready data pipelines. The next cohort starts in January 2026. Join the course here 👇🏼 - DataTalksClub/data-engineering-zoomcamp
github.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Reposted by Mark Downie
If you have a gas furnace or dryer in your home make sure to clear snow away from your exhaust vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
January 26, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Mark Downie
Anyone on Linux want to test my beta Linux build? github.com/shanselman/b...
January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Just published 🚀: Leadership from Birds


https://www.poppastring.com/blog/leadership-from-birds

#leadership #productdevelopment #musings
January 26, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Reposted by Mark Downie
ICE killing #AlexPretti should remind you of police killing #PhilandoCastille. Both men had concealed weapon permits, did not draw their guns, & were killed in Minn. These homicides are the price of unaccountable policing. These deaths are variations on the same fatal theme.
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 AM
A post from the archive 📫:
Curiosity unbounded


https://www.poppastring.com/blog/curiosity-unbounded

#musings
January 24, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
The health care savings from my legislation led to the LOWEST uninsured rate in American history and helped 4 in 5 Americans find health care for $10 or less a month.

The Senate needs to act and restore these tax credits immediately.
January 23, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
🥳 Excited to share that I’m joining @Block as Senior Staff Developer Relations Engineer, Applied AI! I’ll be working with
@angiejones.tech and @blackgirlbytes.bsky.social to explore what’s possible in AI and help you all navigate this fast-changing space. Let’s go! 💙 Starting sooooon
January 23, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Mark Downie
At Gallows Wharf, volunteers are trialling a faster rolling pour for the concrete base.

There’s an end-stop issue to iron out, but 15 metres poured in one week is a big step forward.

Huge credit to the team 👏

#WeDigCanals #Lichfield
January 23, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Nocturne Navigator by Alison Saar #CMOA #Columbus #Art
January 23, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by Mark Downie
ICE Agents Wait At Edge Of Delivery Table To Deport Newborn
January 22, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Just published 🚀: Color‑Driven Code Navigation

https://www.poppastring.com/blog/colordriven-code-navigati
on
#visualstudio
January 22, 2026 at 4:17 AM